Tailwheel Aircraft Nosed Over During Training Landing (N7723K)

What happened

A commercial pilot undergoing proficiency checks in a tailwheel-equipped aircraft made two successful landings while accompanied by a certified flight instructor. During the rollout of the third landing, the aircraft nosed over. The student pilot reported applying heavy braking during an attempt to execute a downslope short-field landing on a grass runway. Both pilots agreed that full up elevator input would not have counteracted the braking force applied by the student.

The investigation

The examination focused on the control inputs and surface conditions during the final approach and rollout. The crew confirmed the use of aggressive braking techniques on a sloped grass surface without sufficient pitch correction to maintain nose wheel clearance.

Findings

• Tailwheel aircraft operation challenges on uneven terrain
• Heavy braking during short-field landing procedures
• Lack of adequate elevator authority to prevent nose-over
• Grass runway slope contributing to loss of control

The combination of aggressive braking and insufficient pitch control led to the forward tip-over of the airframe.